Arch support



Aug. 9, 1932. H. A. TALLMAN ARCH SUPPORT Filed Jan. 2, 1952 InventorPatented Aug. 9, 1932 Fries HARRY A. TALLMAN, OF FORT SCOTT, KANSAS ARCHSUPPORT Application filed January 2, 1932. Serial No. 584,529.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in archsupports for aiding in forming and maintaining the longitudinal andtransverse arches and has for some of its objects to provide, in amanner as hereinafter set forth, a device of this character embodying anovel construction which is strong, durable, simple, eflicient andcomfortable when in use and which may be manufactured at low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of theinvention will become apparent from a study of the followingspecification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing whereinlike characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughoutthe several views, and wherein Figure 1 is a View in side elevationshowing an arch support constructed in accordance with the presentinvention.

Figure 2 is a view in top plan of the arch support.

Figure 3 section through the arch support.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, it will be seen that theembodiment of the invention which is illustrated comprises an elongated,resilient plate of suitable material, preferably spring steel which isdesignated generally by the reference numeral 1 and which includes anupwardly bowed intermediate portion 2 and the substantially straight orfiat end portions 3 and 4. The plate 1 may be of any desired length andwidth and also of any desired shape.

Mounted on the plate 1 is a body 5 of suitable material, preferably alight weight metal or alloy, which may be fixed to the plate in anysuitable manner, as by welding or soldering. The body 5 is formed toprovide an enlarged forward end portion 6 on the end portion 4: of theplate 1 and said body 5 extends over the upwardly bowed intermediateportion 2 and terminates in a beveled rear end 7 adjacent the pointwhere the rear end portion 3 of the plate merges with the intermediateportion 2. The raised enlargement 6 helps to provide a support for thetransverse arch of the foot.

is a view in vertical transverse The upper surface, sides and ends ofthe body 5 are rounded so that no sharp edges are presented to the footof the user.

The lower' portion of the body 5 has formed therein a series ofsubstantially semi- 5&5 oval cut-outs or openings 8 extendingtransversely therein, the plate 1 constituting the lower walls of saidcut-outs or openings. The body 5 is further provided, in its upperportion, with the transverse slits 9 which com- 66) municate with thecut outs or openings 8. The forwardmost of the slits 9 is of materiallygreater width than the other slits and the walls of said forwardmostslit are spaced from each other at all times. The walls of the otherslits are adapted for abutting engage- 'ment when the bowed portion 2 isflexed downward under pressure for limiting downward flexing of saidbowed portion.

In use, the pressure of the foot on the arch support flexes the bowedportion 2 downward until the walls of the slits 9, with the exception ofthe forwardmost slit, are in abutting engagement. Thus, a substantiallypositive support for the arch is provided which exerts a yielding upwardpressure on the arch at all times. The comparatively wide for wardmostslit 9 permits greater flexibility in the support at this point. Theplate 1 and the body 5 may, if desired, be formed from a single piece ofmetal cast in the desired shape and then tempered for strength andresiliency. If desired, the enlargement at 6 may be eliminated.

It is believed that the many advantages of an arch support constructedin accordance with the present invention will be readily understood, andalthough thepreferred embodiment of the invention is as illustrated anddescribed, it is to be understood that changes in the details ofconstruction and in the combination and arrangement of parts may beresorted to which will fall within-the scope of the invention asclaimed. 7

What is claimed is 7 An arch support comprising an elongated resilientmetallic plate including a bowed intermediate portion, and a body on theplate extending across the bowed portion, said body having transversecut-outs in a lower portion and further having transverse slits in anupper portion communicating with the cut-outs, the Walls of the slitsbeing engageable with each other for limiting the flexing of the platein one direction.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

HARRY A. TALLMAN, D. O.

